Rail tool attachment



Jan. 22, 1946. J 5, BRADSHAW 2,393,230

RA IL TOOL ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 15, 1942 grwc/wtom v Patented Jan. 22, 1946 I: 1' 3 '1 1;

UNITED STATES" 2,393,230, RAIL 'ro'or. ATTACHMENT John S..Bradshaw, Ivor, Val j Application November 13, 1942, serial No; 4555i; 'i Y (c1. ze-se) 9 Claims.

This invention concerns a tool to hold and guide a chisel for cutting railway rails.

It is desirable for various reasons for one man to be able to cut a steel rail, but in cutting a rail with a chisel it is exceedingly difficult to hold a -chisel firmly and hold it accurately in position.

Another difficulty in endeavoring to cut a rail is to avoid flying chips of steel that may be thrown oil from the rail or from the chisel head.

A purpose to which this invention is directed is to arrange a holder that may apply a chisel to various portions of the steel rail to be cut. Such a holder is to be simple to arrange in position and is to be applicable for cutting a considerable line. The chisel is to cut the rail along the greater portion of the weband also along the base. In any given position moreover the chisel is to be held firmly. The chisel is to be gripped in such manner that a safety sleeve may be slipped into position to prevent chips from flying when the chisel is struck by a maul.

An important object is to provide firmness or rigidity in holding the chisel, but at the same time to provide for ready change in the position of the chisel-gripping elements.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention'and in the appended claims are pointed out features of novelty of the invention. The following description is directed to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, for the purpose'of illustrating the broader features of this invention;

Inthe drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates in side View a'preferred chisel holder in position on a steel rail;

Figure 2 illustrates in top view the chisel holder shown in Figure 1; p I

Figure 3 illustrates in side view the adjustment of the chisel holder to a position different from that shown in Figure 1 and particularly showingthe chisel in nearly vertical position;

Figure 4 shows in vertical cross section an ele-' ment of a holding block for the chisel taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and t Figure 5 illustrates application of a flexible apron to prevent metal chips from flying fromthe edge of a chisel or from a rail when the chisel is applied. I

According to this invention as illustrated, the chisel holder comprises a substantially built and angular body I. This body is approximately L-shaped with an arm 2 of greater length than an arm 3. The arm 2 is adapted to retaina chisel while the arm 3 is adapted to hold, a screw. for tightening the holder against a rail to be cut.

The middle portion of the longer armj'z' gamers;

, base for two clamps 4 and 5 that extend in gen erally opposite directions from each other.

One or; the other of theseclamps is adapted to be tightened against a head, of the'rail to becut and thus to hold the longer arm in, such position that a chisel 6 will be retained securely against the rail. The holder may be held by the .com panion clamp when the positicnof the chisel'is altered. For example in general, curved clamp 4 is adapted to hold the chisel 6 generally in hori zontal positiorrwlrilthe opposed curved clamp arm 5 is adapted to hold the chisel more nearly toward vertical position. Y I P r f:

Somewhat more in detail andreferring'toFigure 1, the longer arm 2' is held in substantially horizontal positionacross the top of a rail. The' curved clamparmjl extends downwardly with its terminal face I under the roll of the head of the rail 8. This assembly is retained in this posi-i tion by a set screw 9. thatextends through the short arm 3 to bearunder the opposite bead 'of thetopof the r'ai l. w I f In order to add firmness to the structure alsoto arrange for preliminary adjustmento'f the holder againstthe railfa brace l0 isii; cessed into the side .of the curved clamp arm 14.; This brace l0; extendsa way along" the side of the rail bead B and thus minimizes side 'playoi the holder, The arrangement of this brace IDI is illustrated in Figure-l taken in'conjunction' with Figure2. V Q f,

Additional provision is included in thisinven tion to minimizeside 5 play of the holder. This additional provision includes a brace II that extends tothe side of the holder l to rest upon the topof the lrail. Thi's brace is'a'lso illustrated in Figures l} and 2; Further strengthening'of this element is derived from a Verticalplate 12 that restsupon the broad top brace II and fits against the side of the long arm 2'oi thejholder; Thus a bracket is in efiecij maintained'between" the' long arm 2 and the'railiupon whichit rests sofas to steady the arm. 'Moreover, the two braces l0; and ll guide, the holder to a position in which:

the set screw 9 quicklylmay 'betightened under the head {of the rail to be'cut.' I 7 Elements to hold the chisel 6 in position are illustrated in'Figure '1' aspresenting the chisel to the rail. For "this purpose, the longer arm 2' of the holder is bifurcated into component arms 2A and 2B. The inner faces of these'armsare channelled as illustrated in Figure 4. Inthese channels i fitted a guide block l3. This b 9915 n e 1wrge c rr a ew -tr 2 the rail, riding within the channels of the side arms. At any position in these arms guide block 13 is locked against movement by compressing the arms against the block. This is accomplished by a bolt II that extends through proper openings at the ends of the tool arms 2A and 2B. If it is desired to alter the position of the block slightly a simple loosening oi: the bolt l4 permits this adjustment and similarly a simple tightening of the boltand arms locks the block in position.

The block 13 *contalnsa square opening from top to bottom through which is fitted a square arm 15. This arm grips the chisel. Adjustment of the arm IS in its guide opening is made exceedingly simple by providing compression springs in the walls of the opening having faces to bear against a chisel-retaining arm 5. Two pairs of such springs 16 arranged opposite to each other are shown in Figure 2. These springs adequately hold the chisel in position, but permit quick alteration of the chisel to a slightly diflerent'position. Thus as the chisel cuts it may be advancedalong the line out.

Th e"chisel 6 tself "s held by adjustable arm Is in a." simple saddle I1 and tightened in the arm by a bolt head it; The bolt head may simply be a threaded end of the arm l5 adapted to extndthro'ugh ,a suitable hole in the chisel 6 and to retain a nut against the outside of the chisel. The saddle ll'may simply comprise a pair of arms that fare'joined to a common base as in a Y or in "an inverted V arrangement. This saddle may be pinned through the holder arm 15, and

* willailord some lateral support for the chisel 6 to ,a degree depending on the extent and position of the saddle arms H.

The adaptability of this chisel holder is illustrated'by' a position of the holder as shown in Figure 3. In this position the chisel 6 instead of bearing against the web of the rail is held against the base of the rail and is in, substantially vertical position. This is accomplished by applying the arm 5 which is located at a suitable angle opposite to the arm 4. The arm 5 bears a face 19 which when a horizontal portion of the arm 5 rests upon the" top of the rail is tightened under the rail beadby' anopposing set screw 20. This set screw 2ll conveniently extends through a suitable opening'ffacrossthe comer of the chisel holder at the junctions of the long arm 2 and the shorter arm I of the holder.

With the set screw 20 tightened to hold the arml5 the'chisel holder li extends nearly horizoritally and therefore holds the chisel 6 down against the flange of the'irail. As is apparent in Eigure 3', the position of the chisel may be adjusted laterally by moving the am Hi one way or thejotherfagainst the grip of the compressionspring' 16."

The positionof the chisel 6 as illustrated in e 3 makes clear an advantage of this arraiigement that to thetop of the chisel may be fittedaflexible sleeve 21' to prevent chips from from. the chisel. This sleeve 2% conveniently maybe apiece of rubber tubing and conv'eriintlymay at its'up'per end receive a maul head. 22. Themaul' headiwhen struck in turn descends to strike the top of the chisel 5, but any chips from the "head, of the chisel are kept in the" flexible tubing 21 and thus kept away from the operator; j

f Chips .also may ordinarily be thrown off from the point of the chisel or from the out bein f The .preseritinvention as illustrated in- Figure 5 is adapted'to prevent such chip from injuring the operator. Figure 5 and also Figure 3 shows an apron 23 of flexible material and generally elongate, but being slit lengthwise and centrally. At the ends of the apron 23 are rigid retaining elements such as rods 24. These not only hold the ends of the apron, but also provide adequate rigidity to retain the apron in position. Thus, for example the chisel may be inserted through the slit in the apron. Then the lower rod 24 of the apron is held against the base of the rail being cut. The upper rod of the apron is held against the head of the rail and against the arm clamp 5. Thus the line of cut is covered by the apron so that chips may not fly upwardly toward the head of the chisel or toward the eyes of the operator.

This arrangement of a chisel holder is valuable because it permits use of the chisel by one man. The chisel may be arranged in position quickly to out either the web or the base flange of the rail. The position of the chisel may be altered gradually as the cut proceeds. The adjustment of the chisel from a horizontal to a vertical position is made simply and quickly by tightening one or the other of the hooked arms under'the bead of the rail to be cut. During use the chisel is held rigidly. The chisel is struck by a maul in a manner controllable by one man.

It is evident that this holder is adapted to retain other tools than a chisel; for example it may be used to mark or punch points along a rail. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that some variation is permissible in the position and extent of the curved arms 4 andfi that grip the holder to the rail.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be under stood to those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts are subject to some latitude of variation without transcending the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. e 1

What I claim is:

1. A tool holder adapted for use in cutting railway rails comprising, a centralarm, hookfmembers extending from opposite sides of said'arm, adapted. to selectively grip under thejhead oifa rail, said hook members ..being. disposed at? ferent angles, relative to said arm wnereby n angular relationship between the 'central arm and the'railomay be varied, said central'a'rm. having means to adjustably hold a tool against the rail.

2. A tool holder adapted for use in'cuttirigrailway rails comprising, a central armgoppo'sed lio'ok' members extending fromv said arm, each adapted to grip under the head. of a rail, said hook members being angularly disposed relatively toone another whereby the angular relationship her-1 tween the central arm and the rail maybe varied, set screws opposed to said hook members t q'eh gage the sloping underside of the headfo'f the 'rail to tighten the-holder against the'raiLsaid central arm having means to adjustably hold; a tool'against the rail. 1

3. A tool holder adapted for use in cufttingrail: way rails comprising, an arm, a hook member extending from said arm togrip undervi the head of a rail, a set screw opposed to said hook meme bar to engage the sloping underside otthehead of the rail to tighten the holder against the all, and a flat brace extending from said arm-to lie along the face of the rail in suriaceycorrtact there with to position the holder on' the rail, saidga m,

having means to adjustably hold a tool against the rail.

4. A tool holder adapted for use in cutting railway rails comprising, an arm, a hook member extending from said arm to grip under the head of a rail, a set screw opposed to said hook member to engage the sloping underside of the head of the rail to tighten the holder against the rail, a flat brace extending from said arm along the top of the rail and in surface contact therewith, a second brace extending from said hook member to lie flat along the side of the rail, the two said braces positioning the holder on the rail, said arm having means to adjustably hold a tool against the rail.

5. A tool holder adapted for use in cutting railway rails comprising, an arm having means to rigidly clamp it to a rail, said arm being divided beyond the clamping means to provide spaced parallel channel members, a block slidable between said channel members, and means to draw the channel members toward one another to bindingly hold the block in any position of ad justment, said block having means to adjustably hold a tool against the rail.

6. A tool holder comprising a clamp adapted to be secured to a railway rail, spaced parallel channel members extending from said clamp, a guide block having a central opening therethrough slidably mounted between said channel members, yieldable means extending from said guide block into said opening and a tool support positioned in said opening and frictionally engaged by said yieldable means.

7. A tool holder comprising a clamp adapted to be secured to a railway rail, spaced parallel channel members extending from said clamp, a guide block having a central opening therethrough slidably mounted between said channel members, adjustable means connecting said channels to determine the pressure against said guide block, yieldable means extending from said guide block into said opening, and a tool support positioned in said opening and frictionally engaged by said yieldable means.

8. A tool holder adapted for use in cutting railway rails comprising, an arm having means to rigidly clamp it to a rail, said arm being divided beyond the clamping means to provide spaced parallel channel members, a block slidable between said channel members, means to hold the block in any desired position of adjustment, means carried by the block to adjustably hold a tool support, the tool being attached to said tool support by means of a stud extending from said tool support and passing through an opening in said tool and a saddle surrounding said tool and secured to said tool support.

9. A tool holder adapted for use in cutting railway rails comprising, an arm, means to clamp the arm to a rail, means to support a tool in operative position, and a flexible sleeve having its ends surrounding respectively the upper end of the tool and the lower end of a hammer with which the tool is struck to prevent chips from ying.

JOHN S. BRADSHAW. 

